The Status of Divine Command in the Question of Imamate and the Leadership of Muslims in Sunni Qur’anic Exegeses

Abstract

The issue of imamate and leadership has consistently received considerable attention in Sunni Qur’anic exegesis. By examining a range of Sunni commentaries, the present study analyzes the role of divine command in conferring legitimacy upon Islamic leadership and investigates the views of prominent exegetes such as Ibn Kathir, al-Alusi, Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, and al-Qurtubi. The findings indicate that although some exegetes emphasize consensus (ijmāʿ) and consultation (shūrā) in the selection of the leader of the Muslim community, many others simultaneously associate the legitimacy of political authority with the divine will and command. The results further demonstrate that Sunni exegetes have developed divergent interpretations of divine command in relation to the imamate and the leadership of Muslims. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach, this study shows that divine command continues to constitute a fundamental principle in the legitimation of Islamic leadership within Sunni exegesis and that this concept has directly influenced interpretations of Islamic systems of governance across different historical periods.